April 2020 ~ Days 26 - 30

Welcome to Play It Again! in April 2020.

Samsara by Kerry O'Connor
@skyloverpoetry

We have reached the final stage of the prompt a day, shared from our archives to inspire poets during NaPoWriMo. Many thanks to all who participated, and especially to those who generously responded to the posts of other poets throughout the month.

Links to prompts for Days 26 - 30 can be followed below.
Please include a link back to the original post on your site if you choose to write to one of these prompts.

Day 26

Reboot, Rewind, Recycle, April 26, 2019

Day 27

The Way of Tea, April 27, 2016

Day 28

Harper Lee, April 28, 2013

Day 29

This is (almost) the end, April 29. 2018

Day 30

Bang, Whimper, Hiss, April 30, 2015




Please use the Linky provided for all poems written over the five days.

April 2020 ~ Days 21 - 25

Welcome to Play It Again! in April 2020.

"Pity on the Living"
Copyright Kerry O'Connor
@skyloverpoetry

The Imaginary Garden is hosting a prompt a day from our archives to inspire poets during NaPoWriMo.
Links to prompts for Days 21 - 25 can be followed below.
Please include a link back to the original post on your site if you choose to write to one of these prompts.

Day 21

Tree Mythology, April 21, 2019

Day 22

Poets of April, April 22, 2018

Day 23

The Bard, April 23. 2016

Day 24

Wild Woman: Natural Wonders, April 24, 2019

Day 25

Artistic Interpretations: Willard Asylum, April 25, 2014



Please use the Linky provided for all poems written over the five days.

April 2020 ~ Days 16 - 20

Welcome to Play It Again! in April 2020.

IN Spring~
@skyloverpoetry

The Imaginary Garden is hosting a prompt a day from our archives to inspire poets during NaPoWriMo.
Links to prompts for Days 16 - 20 can be followed below.

Please include a link back to the original post on your site if you choose to write to one of these prompts.

Day 16

In the Remains, April 16, 2016

Day 17

Transforming Fridays with Nature's Wonders, April 17, 2015

Day 18

Encouragement, April 18, 2013

Day 19

Get Listed!, April 19, 2018

Day 20

When Good Wishes Go Bad, April 20, 2016






Please use the Linky provided for all poems written over the five days.

April 2020 ~ Days 11 - 15

Welcome to Play It Again! in April 2020.

Blackout Poetry based on the poem Rain by Norman Nichols
@skyloverpoetry

The Imaginary Garden is hosting a prompt a day from our archives to inspire poets during NaPoWriMo.
Links to prompts for Days 11 - 15 can be followed below.
Please include a link back to the original post on your site if you choose to write to one of these prompts.

Day 11

Soviet Kitsch, April 11, 2016

Day 12

Love, April 12, 2019

Day 13

13 is Poetry, April 13, 2018

Day 14

Invisible, April 14, 2017

Day 15

Folly, April 15, 2015



Please use the Linky provided for all poems written over the five days.

April 2020 ~ Days 6 - 10

Welcome to Play It Again! in April 2020.

Copyright Kerry O'Connor
@skyloverpoetry

The Imaginary Garden is hosting a prompt a day from our archives to inspire poets during NaPoWriMo.
Links to prompts for Days 6 - 10 can be followed below.
Please include a link back to the original post on your site if you choose to write to one of these prompts.

Day 6

Speaking in the Voice of Another, April 6, 2018

Day 7

Bracelet, April 7, 2016

Day 8

L'Arora, April 8, 2018

Day 9

Words Count with Mama Zen, April 9, 2013

Day 10

The Art of Odilon Redon, April 10, 2014





Please use the Linky provided for all poems written over the 5 day period.

April 2020 ~ Days 1 - 5

Welcome to Play It Again! in April 2020.

Blackout Poetry
from Fox by Clifford Dyment
@skyloverpoetry

The Imaginary Garden will be hosting a prompt a day from our archives to inspire poets during NaPoWriMo. Links to prompts for Days 1 - 5 can be followed below. Please include a link back to the original post on your site if you choose to write to one of these prompts.

Day 1

April is for Fools and Poets, April 1, 2016

Day 2

Taking it to the Streets, April 2, 2014

Day 3

Existentialism , April 3, 2013

Day 4

Caution: Tender Buttons, April 4, 2015

Day 5

Space Time, April 5, 2017



Please use the Linky provided for all poems written over the 5 day period.

PLAY IT AGAIN! with REAL TOADS

Dearest friends, poets, minstrels, bards, lovers of words and songs, I greet you as a founder member and Creative Manager of The Imaginary Garden with Real Toads for the last time.

I opened the gates of the Garden to all fellow bloggers on July 18, 2011 and after nearly a decade of being part of this amazing community of poets, writers, photographers and artists, who have all been teachers and students together, the time has come to say goodbye to an era of poetry challenges and prompts hosted by the Toads.

However, it would not be true to our Mission Statement if we left without a proper fare thee well, and with one last prompt, a retrospective of all the talent, inspiration and generous sharing of ideas, which made Real Toads a one of a kind creative space.

I invite you all to PLAY IT AGAIN! and AGAIN! and AGAIN!

KERRY ~ LET'S FIND OUR POETIC VOICE

MAGALY ~ 1 POEM 3 TITLES

MARGARET ~ SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL

SHERRY ~ WHAT WE SAVE SAVES US

SANAA ~ WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

MARIAN ~ WEST OF ROME

SUSIE ~ AMBER ROSE TAMBLYN

KIM ~ PORTRAITURE

BJORN ~ MANIFESTO

IZY ~ CHEW THROUGH YOUR OWN CHAINS

ANMOL ~ YOU ARE A POET

ROMMY ~ JOB TITLE

ALTERNATIVELY ~ SELECT ANY PROMPT FROM THE ARCHIVES, TODAY OR TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY.... AND WRITE POEMS FOREVER!  

Please remember to include a link to the post you have chosen. The Linky will remain open and this post will be on the home page for the month of January. I invite you to return to write again and read the poems posted. 

Let us break all records for toad participation!!!

Although this may feel like an ending, let us think of it as a new beginning. The blogsite will not disappear completely, but remain as an archive and online reference site, hopefully to offer inspiration for many years to come. 
Anyone may contact me at theimaginarygarden@gmail.com or via DM on Instagram @skyloverpoetry. 

Please return tomorrow for the grande finale! 

A retrospective chat between Sherry, Marian and me so we can end things off in the fine spirit of togetherness in which this project started.

Play It Again! with 'Old Toads'

For this weekend's prompt, I wish to pay tribute to former members of The Imaginary Garden with Real Toads. Since July 2010, many talented poets have joined our core group and left their mark before leaping off their lily pad for different ponds. Please enjoy this retrospective look at the ideas that inspired us all to think about poetry in new and exciting ways!

Imaginary Garden with Real Toads
Original Banner (2010)

A Word With Laurie, September 9, 2011

Herotomost's Challenge, July 10. 2014

Ella's Edge, September 28, 2011

Fireblossom Friday, February 28, 2014

Hedgewitch's Challenge, April 10, 2014

Get Listed! with Grapeling, May 7, 2015

Transforming Nature's Wonders with Hannah Gosselin, July 21, 2016

Sunday Mini Challenge with Brendan, April 29, 2017

Sunday Mini Challenge with Karin Gustafson, January 16, 2016

Sunday Mini Challenge with Kim Nelson, June 29, 2013

Mary's Mixed Bag, November 30, 2012

Susan Says, March 20, 2013

Fashion Me Your Words to Fold with Gillena Cox, February 25, 2017

Words Count with Mama Zen, September 10, 2015

Step Into the Void with Toni Spencer, September 6, 2018


Select one of these amazing challenges and write a new poem. This prompt is a the top of the home page until Tuesday, so please return to read more of the works linked up or to choose another prompt and write again!

Play it Again, Toads!

This weekend we revisit archived challenges of the Imaginary Garden. This affords us the opportunity to catch up on a recent prompt we may have missed or allows us to explore the side bar (2011 - 2017).

The Youthful Poet's Dream
William Blake (1820)

Alternatively, select a prompt from the three I have highlighted below. I have not included a Flash 55 prompt. However, that is an Open Challenge on the first weekend of each month so any 55-worders are welcome.

1.  Fireblossom Fridays: Arrivals & Departures - December 2011

2.  Get Listed! - September 2014

3.  Sunday Mini-Challenge: Carilda Olivar Labra - February 2015

Feel free to write to more than one prompt. The link stays open and at the top of the home page until Tuesday.

Play It Again Toads!

This weekend we revisit archived challenges of the Imaginary Garden. This affords us the opportunity to catch up on a recent prompt we may have missed or allows us to explore the side bar (2011 - 2017). 

The Muse Inspiring the Poet
Henri Rousseau (1909)

Alternatively, select a prompt from the ones I have highlighted below. I have included a Flash 55 for those who like to write to that prompt on the first weekend of the month - naturally this is an open invitation to write an unprompted 55 word poem.

1. Flash 55 PLUS!, with Kerry, October 2015

2. Get Listed!, with Hedgewitch, March 2014

3. Aubades, with Grace O'Malley, December 2011

Play It Again Toads!

This weekend we revisit archived challenges of the Imaginary Garden. This affords us the opportunity to catch up on a recent prompt we may have missed (especially from the wealth of inspirational April prompts) or allows us to explore the side bar (2011 - 2017).

The Recitation
Thomas Dewing (1891)

Alternatively, select a prompt from the ones I have highlighted below. I have included a Flash 55 for those who like to write to that prompt on the first weekend of the month - naturally this is an open invitation to write an unprompted 55 - worder.

1.  Flash 55 PLUS! with Kerry, August 2015

2.  Transforming with Nature's Wonders with Hannah, May 2016

3.  Artistic Interpretations - Simply Beautiful with Margaret, December 2014

Play It Again Toads!

Today we revisit archived challenges of the Imaginary Garden. This affords us the opportunity to catch up on a recent prompt we may have missed or allows us to explore the side bar (2011 - 2017).

La Femme Peintre (1931)
Pierre Roy

Alternatively, select a prompt from the ones I have highlighted below.
I have included a Flash 55 for those who like to write to that prompt on the first weekend of the month.

1. Flash 55 PLUS!, May 2, 2015

2. Words Count with Mama Zen, August 7, 2013

3. Fireblossom Friday, April 26, 2013

Play It Again!

Today we revisit archived challenges of the Imaginary Garden. This affords us the opportunity to catch up on a recent prompt we may have missed or allows us to explore the side bar (2011 - 2016).
Select your own or choose from the ones I have highlighted below. I have included a Flash 55 for those who like to write to that prompt on the first weekend of the month.

Portrait of the Poet Peter Hille
Lovis Corinth (1902)

1. Flash 55 PLUS!, Dante, July 4 2015

2. Sharkey's Day, Music with Marian, February 7 2014

3. Film School Dropout, Out of Standard with Izy Gruye, 12 June 2013

Play It Again, Toads!

Welcome to Play it Again, Toads! where archived challenges of this Imaginary Garden come to life again. Have fun exploring the side bar (2011 - 2016) and selecting your own or choose from three I've highlighted below.

Philosopher and Poet
Giorgio de Chirico (1916)
Fair Use

1.  The Poetry in a Quote, Susie's Bits of Inspiration, April 13, 2015

2. Avant-Edge: Songs of Innocence and Experience, Sam Edge, April 3, 2014

3. Photography Challenge, featuring Kenia Cris, March 3, 2012

Play It Again, Toads

Welcome to Play it Again, Toads! where archived challenges of this Imaginary Garden come to life again. Have fun exploring the side bar (2011 - 2016) and selecting your own or choose from three I've highlighted below.

Kerry's Wednesday Challenge ~ Pastiche  (December 2012)

Music with Marian ~ A Walk on the Wild Side (November 2013)

Sunday Mini-Challenge hosted by Grace  (December 2014)